Pasadena, CA (BDCi TV) – The Los Angeles Galaxy took a page out of the Brazilian national team’s playbook and took a thumping at the hands of famed English Premier League Club Manchester United 7-0 in front of 86,432 at the Rose Bowl Wednesday night.
England team star Wayne Rooney, newcomer Reece James and veteran sub Ashley Young each had a pair of goals to power Man U on offense, a barrage they didn’t really need as L.A. couldn’t get anything offensively going all night.
It was actually forward Danny Welbeck who got the Red Devils going with a 13th minute precision dart that caromed off the side post past a shocked Jaime Penedo. From that point, it was quiet until late in the half when the Galaxy’s AJ DeLaGarza got caught with his hands on the ball, yielding an easy penalty shot for Wayne Rooney. Minutes later it would be the fortunate Rooney who would be at the right place, right time when Galaxy defender Tommy Meyer missed an easy stop. After Rooney’s tap-in, Man U took a 3-0 commanding lead into the halftime.
There were no comebacks in the second half as the Galaxy’s new starters weren’t any better than the first starting squad. Landon Donovan was introduced in the second half, but he was about as useful as Michael Landon.
In the 62nd minute, recent U21 standout Reece James received a picture perfect and unchallenged pass from Ashley Young and one-touched it firmly past Brian Rowe who spelled Penedo.
James would repeat his scoring in the 84th minute, and the rout was on. Veteran midfielder Ashley Young got into the mix in the final two minutes of the friendly with two very easy goals past Rowe, and before you knew it, the Galaxy would realize their worst ever friendly defeat.
The next L.A Galaxy match is an MLS Western Conference showdown against the Seattle Sounders at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field Monday the 28th with TV rights in the hands of ESPN2.